Hair shaping device, especially a steam styling tong

ABSTRACT

Steam styling tongs including an evaporating device which is supplied with heat by a heating device and comprises an evaporator surface in thermal contact with the heating device. Liquid evaporates on the evaporator surface into steam, which then passes into a steam-distributor chamber and, there, flows outward via through-passages. The heating device is formed in a combustion chamber of the drum, in which, during the heating operation, flame-free combustion of a gas takes place by means of a catalyst, of which the combustion gases pass out via outlets formed in the drum or in the combustion chamber. The combustion chamber and the steam-distributor chamber are formed by a common chamber. Means which prevent water from penetrating into the common chamber are also provided.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a hair-shaping appliance, in particular steamstyling tongs.

BACKGROUND

JP-A-11 46839 discloses a gas-operated hair-shaping appliance, in whichflame-free combustion of a gas takes place by means of a catalyst forheating up heating tubes in a combustion chamber. There is provided asteam-distributor chamber which is supplied with water by a liquidcontainer. The liquid container is provided with an exchange valve, viawhich air flows in when water flows out of the liquid container. Whennot in use, the pressure in the liquid container can increase, forexample, on account of heating. This may result in water passing, viathe liquid-channeling device, into the steam chamber and, from there,then flowing into the steam-distributor chamber, where it ultimatelypasses outward via the through-passages. During the heating-up operationof the hair-shaping appliance, this may result in an increased formationof steam. Thus, a user may sustain burns if he/she picks up theappliance.

Outlets connected to the combustion chamber and through-passagesconnected to the steam-distributor chamber are formed in the drum. Thismay result in differing temperatures at various locations, since thetemperature at the outlets is usually higher than the temperature at thethrough-passages. Furthermore, this hair-shaping appliance is expensiveand complex to construct as a result of the combustion chamber beingseparated from the steam-distributor chamber.

An object of the invention is to develop a gas-operated hair-shapingappliance, in particular steam styling tongs, according to the preambleof patent claim 1 such that the above disadvantages are avoided and, atthe same time, the construction and the assembly of the hair-shapingappliance are simplified and the production costs are reduced. Aspectsof the invention are also intended to achieve uniform and/or freelyselectable steam distribution over the circumference of the drum.

SUMMARY

In one aspect of the invention the steam can mix with the combustiongases coming from the catalyst to better effect in one common chamberand can heat up more uniformly. The steam and combustion gases pass outthrough commonly used through-passages, which may be formed uniformlyaround the drum. This results in a uniform hot stream of steam aroundthe drum. In this way, the drum or the heating tube is also heated upbetter and more uniformly, because the common chamber can bound the drumall the way round from the inside. In order that no water passes intothe common chamber, suitable means are provided according to an aspectof the invention. This is because if water droplets were to wet thecatalyst, then considerable ignition problems would arise since acomparatively high level of ignition energy would have to be applied inorder for the water located on the catalyst to be evaporated before theflame-free combustion process ignites the catalyst. A single collectingchamber for the combustion gases and the steam simplifies theconstruction of the hair-shaping appliance to a considerable extent and,in addition to the abovementioned advantages, reduces the productioncosts.

By virtue of the features of one embodiment, only through-passages areformed on the drum. The through passages are connected to the commonchamber. Both the hot combustible gases and the steam pass through thethrough-passages, in the form of a mixture.

The features of another embodiment include means to prevent excess waterfrom collecting in the evaporating device because, during the returnstroke of the dosing device, the excess water is automatically suckedback into the liquid container. Even when the dosing device is actuateda number of times in quick succession, these actuations cannot result inthe evaporating device overflowing since during the return stroke of thedosing or pumping device, on account of the “closed” liquid tank, excesswater is always sucked back into the water tank via theliquid-channeling device. As a result of this embodiment of theinvention, the appliance remains dry and no water can penetrate into thecatalyst via the common chamber or pass out of the drum. Penetratingwater would impair the functioning of the catalyst or would even preventit from being ignited, since it would be necessary to first evaporatethe water in the catalyst. The energy required to do this, however, isnot present at the start of ignition.

According to the features of another embodiment, the dosing devicecomprises, on the one hand, a pressure/suction pump and, on the otherhand, a closed liquid container with only one outlet. During the returnstroke of the dosing or pumping device, the outlet performs the functionof an inlet for excess water which collects in the evaporator chamber orstill adheres to the liquid-channeling device as an excess droplet. Ofcourse, it is also conceivable to integrate a further liquid containerin the appliance, which is provided with a separately workingliquid-channeling device that channels excess water back into the secondcontainer.

By virtue of excess liquid flowing back immediately into the liquidcontainer from the evaporating device, the hair-shaping appliance can beheld as desired in a user's hand without liquid passing out of the drumvia the through-passages. This also results in a particularly economicalwater-discharging device. The liquid located in the liquid container isfully converted into steam without some of the water running out of theappliance unused.

The features of another embodiment are provided in order to improve theoperation of the evaporating device further, and in order to prevent thewater that is discharged by the dosing device during the actuation fromescaping even when the hair-shaping appliance is in the horizontalposition. The evaporator chamber forms a relatively large evaporatingsurface and, at the same time, it retains small water droplets to bettereffect. It is possible here for the chamber to be of plate-like,cup-like or pot-like design.

The features of another embodiment result in an embodiment ofliquid-channeling device which does not expose the wick to anexcessively high temperature. This increases the service life of thewick. It is thus no longer necessary for the wick to be pressed againstthe evaporating surface in order for water to be discharged in a meteredmanner. However, it is also possible, upon actuation of the dosingdevice, for the wick to come into contact with the evaporator plate andto be pressed against it slightly.

The features of another embodiment make it possible for the wick totransport both liquid and air in both directions. This arrangementallows straightforward metering of the liquid. It is not possible forthe liquid to run out without the dosing device being actuated.

The features of another embodiment provide a large receiving surface forthe liquid on the wick, with the result that, even when the liquidcontainer is in the horizontal position, the wick is still supplied withsufficient liquid. This holds true even when the liquid container isalmost empty.

The features of another embodiment render the distance between the freeend of the wick and the evaporator-chamber surface small enough toenable, even in the case of a small droplet forming at the free end ofthe wick, for the droplet to come into contact with theevaporator-chamber surface and even to flow out onto the latter, andevaporate there.

The features of another embodiment bring about a particularlystraightforward integration of the dosing device with the liquidcontainer. Based on the piston stroke, a correspondingly large or smallamount of liquid passes out of the liquid-channeling device. In the caseof this arrangement, the piston has to be displaced automatically intoits starting position, preferably by means of a spring, in order toenable an automatic suction stroke to be executed.

The features of another embodiment result in a particularlystraightforward embodiment of the dosing device integrated in the liquidcontainer. The elastically deformable wall can easily be actuated fordischarging liquid; however, it also easily moves back automaticallyinto its original shape again, on account of its elastic expandability,in order to allow the suction stroke to be executed without a user'sintervention. The elastically deformable wall may be fastened on theliquid container, for example by injection molding, screw connection,adhesive bonding or in some other manner. It may also be designed as amolding with the liquid container. Although, in this case, the wallthicknesses should be coordinated with one another such that, uponactuation of the deformable wall, the liquid container itself hardlydeforms.

In order that the dosing device can discharge considerable quantities ofliquid, it is advantageous if the deformable wall is of an outwardlycurved design. The elastically deformable material and the wallthickness of the deformable wall have to be selected such that, on theone hand, they can easily be moved by hand and, on the other hand, theyproduce a sufficient suction-stroke action in the chamber of the liquidcontainer such that excess water, which may be present in theevaporating chamber or on the wick, can be sucked back into the liquidcontainer sufficiently quickly via the liquid-channeling device.

The features of another embodiment are provided in order to ensure thatwater only flows into the evaporating chamber when the liquid-channelingdevice butts against the base of the evaporating chamber or, better,terminates a short distance in front of the chamber. The rigidity of theelastically deformable wall is thus selected to be high enough for theliquid container, initially without any marked elastic deformation ofthe wall, to be displaced counter to the force of the compression springuntil the wick has reached its liquid-discharging position in theevaporating chamber. This ensures that even excess liquid which mayoccur during the return stroke can be channeled back into the liquidcontainer via the wick. For easy displacement of the liquid container,the latter is fastened in a non-displaceable manner in an insulatingsleeve, which is fastened in a stationary manner within the drum. Inorder to avoid thermal overloading of the liquid container, theinsulating sleeve is preferably produced from plastic.

In another embodiment, in order to allow the deformable wall to beexchanged if it is worn, it may be connected to the liquid container bya thread, a clip device, or some other releasable connection.

The features of another embodiment are provided in order to enable theliquid container to be easily removed from the hair-shaping appliance tobe filled with a liquid. The liquid container is preferably filled withwater, water enriched with fragrances, hair-treating substances, orother materials. A locking device designed in accordance with theprinciple of a bayonet closure allows the liquid container to be quicklyinserted and removed. In the locked position, the locking devicereleases the liquid container for further displacement in the directionof the evaporating chamber. At least one stub projecting radially on theliquid container initially engages in a recess, when inserted, and isthen secured by rotation against dropping out automatically. The liquidcontainer can be moved back and forth within certain limits in thelongitudinal direction by means of a further recess adjoining the firstrecess. Instead of one stub, of course, it is also possible for two ormore stubs to be formed on the circumference of the liquid container.Although, in this case, it is also necessary to introduce into thesleeve a corresponding number of recesses, which then cooperate with therespectively associated stub. This improves the guidance of the liquidcontainer.

The features of another embodiment ensure that it is only when theliquid container has been removed from the hair-shaping appliance andthe closure cap has been opened that it can be filled with water. Theoperation of removing the liquid container from the hair-shapingappliance, which is necessary for filling the liquid container, helps toprevent malfunctioning of, and thus possible damage to, the hair-shapingappliance, because a user is not required to hold the entire applianceunder a water source during the filling operation. The forced separationof the liquid container from the hair-shaping appliance facilitateshandling of the filling operation.In this case, the hair-shapingappliance can be set to one side and the liquid container, on account ofit being smaller than the rest of the hair-shaping appliance, can beheld more easily under a faucet or a container.

The features of another embodiment ensure that, following actuation ofthe dosing device, the liquid container is automatically moved back intoits starting position by the force of the compression spring as soon asthe actuating force applied to the elastic wall by a user decreases.

According to the features of another embodiment, the compression spring,in addition to serving as a restoring spring for the liquid container,also performs a retaining and sealing function. A sealing ring mountedon an external diameter of the compression spring butts with sealingaction against the liquid container and seals the evaporator chamber inrelation to the bore formed in the insulating sleeve and to the liquidcontainer. The sealing ring butts with sliding action in the bore of theinsulating sleeve to seal the evaporator chamber when the liquidcontainer is displaced.

The features of another embodiment ensure that, if a water droplet isactually slung out of the evaporator chamber, it is stopped on the hotfelt ring where it evaporates and then penetrates the felt ring in theform of steam. This prevents the functioning of the catalyst from beingdisturbed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows, on an enlarged scale, a partial longitudinal cross-sectionof a front region of a hair-shaping appliance according to an embodimentof the invention with the dosing device being located in itsnon-actuated, starting position;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of a rotated portion of the hair shapingappliance including the insulating sleeve with the dosing deviceinserted therein and the evaporator plate before the portion is insertedinto the drum;

FIG. 3 shows a partial longitudinal cross-section through thehair-shaping appliance according to an embodiment of the inventioncorresponding to FIG. 1, with the dosing device in the actuatedposition; and

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the insulating sleeve with dosing device andevaporator plate according to FIG. 2, with the dosing device in theactuated position according to FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The hair-shaping appliance 1, which is preferably designed in the formof steam styling tongs, comprises, according to FIGS. 1 and 3, a tubulardrum 3, which treats hair (not illustrated). The tubular drum 3 includesthrough-passages 2. In a central section of the drum 3, there is formedan evaporator plate 4, which, according to FIGS. 1 and 3, hasdiametrically opposite crosspieces 5 which run to the right. Openings 6are formed between the crosspieces 5. The crosspieces 5 enclose acombustion chamber 7, in which a tubular catalyst 8 is formed as part ofa heating device 12. Flame-free combustion of a gas (not illustrated)takes place during the heating operation within the combustion chamber7. The gas passes out of an outlet-valve device (not illustrated) of acartridge (not illustrated) and flows into a mixing/regulating and valvedevice (not illustrated).

The catalyst 8 essentially comprises a tubular steel mesh with a surfacecoating which consists of platinum or palladium and on which theflame-free combustion takes place. Projecting at a free end 11 of thecatalyst 8 are thin ignition filaments 9 which are produced from wire.The filaments 9 provide for easy ignition during start-up of thecatalyst 8 and, thus, initiate the heating operation of the heatingdevice 12. Projecting into the opening 6 from right to left is a controlrod 10, which, based on the temperature, controls the feed of gas to thecatalyst 8 via a valve device.

Opposite a base 76 of the opening 6, an evaporating device 13 isarranged within the drum 3. The evaporating device 13 includes anevaporator chamber 14, designed as a blind bore 15, with an evaporatingsurface 16. The evaporator chamber 14 is part of the evaporator plate 4and likewise runs concentrically in relation to the drum 3. In addition,the evaporating device 13 preferably includes a felt or a similarair-permeable and water-permeable wick material fastened in an outlet 18of a liquid container 19 to form a liquid-channeling device or wick 17.A first free end 20 of the wick 17 projects at a border 21 of the outlet18. The wick 17 is compressed by the wall of a bore 22 firmly enough inorder to be retained in a non-slip manner in the bore 22 of the outlet18. The wick 17 has a second free end 23 projecting into aliquid-accommodating, preferably water-accommodating, chamber 24 of theliquid container 19 in order to form a sufficiently large receivingsurface for the liquid.

According to FIGS. 1 and 3, the liquid container 19 comprises a tube 25,of which an outer end is provided with a dosing device 26, while itsother end, which is located in the drum 3, is provided with a sleeve 27on its base. The outlet 18 with the wick 17 is arranged in the sleeve27. The sleeve 27 projects into the tube 25 and is preferablyscrew-connected there with sealing action by means of a thread 28 or abayonet closure (not illustrated). The sleeve 27 has a projectingannular collar 30. An annular surface 29 of the annular collar 30 isdirected toward the dosing device 26 and supports an O-ring 31. TheO-ring is pressed against a free end 32 of the tube 25 to produce asealed connection between the sleeve 27 and the tube 25. The O-ring 31is retained in a stationary manner in an annular groove 33 formed in thesleeve 27. This prevents the O-ring 31 from sliding down the sleeve 27when the liquid container 19 is unscrewed to be filled. Sliding down ofthe O-ring 31 could cause the O-ring to go missing, thereby eliminatingthe seal of the liquid container 19.

According to FIGS. 1 and 3, a sealing ring 35, in a bore 36 of which acompression spring 37 is retained in a stationary manner, is supportedon an end surface 34 of the annular collar 30. The end surface 34 isdirected toward the evaporator chamber 14. The compression spring 37 hasits other end supported on a base 38 of an insulating sleeve 39. Thesealing ring 35 is preferably produced from elastomeric material and, byway of its annular sealing surface 50, slides, with sealing action,along an inner bore 51 of the insulating sleeve 39. At the same time,the other end of the guide sleeve 35 butts with sealing action againstthe end surface 34, causing an annular chamber 53, which is connected tothe evaporator chamber 14 via a bore 52, to close with sealing action inthe direction of the atmosphere. This is because an annular space 55 isprovided between an outer surface 54 of the tube 25 and the inner bore51. This makes it possible for air to pass to the sealing surface 50 ofthe guide sleeve 35 via the annular space. The annular space 55 may beof very small dimensions in order to ensure tilting-free guidance of theliquid container 19 in the insulating sleeve 39.

According to FIGS. 1 and 3, the insulating sleeve 39 is firmly connectedto the drum 3, preferably by crimping. During the crimping, material 40of the drum 3 is pressed plastically into depressions 41 formed on theinsulating sleeve 39. FIGS. 2 and 4 show the insulating sleeve 39 beforeit is inserted into a bore 42 of the drum 3 and crimped. The insulatingsleeve 39 is centered in the bore 42 by way of its outer surface 43 andstrikes against the free end 45 of the drum 3 by way of its end surface44. Thus, the insulating sleeve 39 always has a fixed arrangement inrelation to the drum 3. The insulating sleeve 39 concentrically enclosespart of the liquid container 19, the sleeve 27, and the evaporatingdevice 13.

Supported, according to FIGS. 1 and 3, on an annular surface 46 of theinsulating sleeve 39 is an annular felt element 47. An opposite side ofthe annular felt element 47 butts against an annular surface 48 of theevaporator plate 4. The annular felt element 47 is clamped in betweenthe two annular surfaces 46, 48 such that it always maintains thisposition in captive fashion. In order for it to be centered in theradial direction, an annular collar 49 projecting from the annularsurface 48 engages on an inner surface of the felt element 47. An end ofthe tube 25 which projects to the left out of the insulating sleeve 39is provided with an opening 56, which is closed by a stopper 57. Acylindrical section 58 of the stopper 57 projects into a through-passagebore 59 of the tube 25 and is centered there. A base 60 of the stopper57 is formed by a flexible diaphragm. Upon actuation of the stopper 57,for example by a user's finger applying pressure to it from the outside,the diaphragm deforms in the direction of a chamber 24 such that thechamber 24 is reduced in size and liquid is delivered into theevaporator chamber 14 via the wick 17.

An annular collar 61 is formed on the outer surface of the stopper 57and is pressed with sealing action, by a retaining ring 62, intoabutment against an end surface 63 formed at the free end of the tube25. The retaining ring 62 itself is firmly connected to the tube 25 byretaining noses 64, which engage resiliently in latching holes 65 formedon the outer surface of the tube 25. This connection constitutes a typeof clipping or snap-in device, in which the annular collar 61 iselastically deformed until the retaining noses 64 spring resilientlyinto the latching holes 65. Thus, in the manner of a barb, the retainingnoses 64 are not capable of sliding out of the latching holes 65. Theopening 56 of the tube 25 is closed with sealing action in this way. Thediaphragm 60 and the cylindrical section 58 of the stopper 57 arepreferably formed integrally from an elastic polymer material. Thediaphragm 60 forms the pressure/suction pump and/or the dosing device 26for the liquid container 19.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a clamp 67, which is generally customary inthe case of such hair-shaping appliances 1, butts against an outerlateral surface 66 in a top region of the drum 3. The clamp 67 may bepivoted upward, in arrow direction Y, by hand on the right-hand side,about a point of rotation (not illustrated), in order to allow hair (notillustrated) to be wound around the outer lateral surface 66 of the drum3. The hair is then clamped in between the outer lateral surface 66 andthe clamp 67 by the downwardly moving clamp 67. The clamp 67 is ofdouble-walled design. At its free end, the clamp 67 is closed in theforward direction by a stopper 71 engaging in a cavity 68 of its walls69, 70. The stopper 71 is preferably firmly connected to the walls 69,70 by a crimping device 72. The clamp 67 runs concentrically in relationto the outer lateral surface 66 of the drum 3, as seen in cross section.Thus, the clamp 67 butts against the outer lateral surface 66 if thereis no hair positioned in a gap 73. In this position, the clamp 67 ismore or less flush against the outer lateral surface 66. The width ofthe gap 73 is at its smallest in this position.

FIGS. 2 and 4 illustrate the dosing device 26 the liquid container 19,the insulating sleeve 39 and the evaporator plate 4. These areillustrated as an installation part which has been removed from the drum3 in order to more clearly show a bayonet closure 74 between the liquidcontainer 19 and the insulating sleeve 39. Formed on the inner bore 51of the insulating sleeve 39, in the front left-hand section according toFIGS. 1 to 4, are diametrically opposite guide or insertion grooves 75(illustrated by dashed lines in FIGS. 2 and 4). When the liquidcontainer 19 is inserted into the insulating sleeve 39, diametricallyopposite stubs 77, which project from an outer surface 54 of the tube25, engage the insertion grooves 75. Following further displacement ofthe liquid container 19 according to FIGS. 1 to 4 to the right, thestubs 77 engage in a recess 78 formed on the insulating sleeve.

Upon further displacement in the direction X, the stub strikes against aramp 79 of the recess 78 and, since the insulating sleeve 39 is fastenedin a rotationally fixed manner in the drum 3, the tube 25, and thus theentire liquid container 19, is rotated in the direction of rotation U,(which runs in the clockwise direction). Upon release, the liquidcontainer 19, with the stub 77, is moved longitudinally parallel to thecenter axis, counter to the displacement direction X and withoutrotating, by the force of the compression spring 37 until the stub 77strikes against a stop surface 81 of the recess 78. This can be seenfrom FIG. 2. In this case, the stub 77 engages behind a blockingprotuberance 82, which is formed on the stop surface 81. This preventsthe liquid container 19, for example on account of vibrations acting onit, from being able to rotate automatically counter to the direction ofrotation U, in which case the stub 77 could reach the guide groove 75and drop out of the insulating sleeve 39. The compression spring 37 thusalways presses the liquid container 19, and thus the stub 77, withprestressing against the stop surface 81.

According to FIGS. 2 and 4, the ramp 79 is adjoined by an end surface 83which runs parallel to a center axis 80. With a boundary surface 84located opposite the ramp 79 and the end surface 83, a gap 85 is formedin the recess 78. Upon axial displacement of the liquid container 19 inthe direction X, the stub 77 can engage until it strikes against a stopsurface 86 and no further displacement of the liquid container 19 ispossible, as FIG. 4 clearly shows. In this position, the free end 20 ofthe wick 17 terminates at a small distance in front of the evaporatorsurface 16. The distance is preferably only a few millimeters. It isalso conceivable, however, for the free end 20 of the wick 17 to strikeagainst the evaporator surface 16 even in the actuating positionillustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Operation and functioning of the hair-shaping appliance 1 according tothe invention are as follows:

1. Removal of the liquid container 19 from the hair-shaping appliance 1and filling of said container with a liquid, preferably water:

According to FIG. 2, the retaining ring 62 is pressed firmly by hand inthe actuating direction X such that the liquid container 19 is displacedto the right counter to the force of the compression spring 37. The stub77 lifts off from the stop surface 81 in the process. At the same time,the liquid container 19 is rotated in the circumferential direction U byhand until the stub 77 strikes against the boundary surface 86 of therecess 78 and is aligned with the guide groove 75. On account of theprestressed compression spring 37, when the hand is released from theretaining ring 62 and/or the diaphragm 60 of the liquid container 19,the latter is displaced counter to the direction X and the stub 77slides to the left in the guide groove 75 according to FIG. 2. As soonas the prestressing force of the compression spring 37 has been used up,the liquid container 19 can then be removed by hand from the inner bore51 of the sleeve 27 and, thus, from the drum 3. The removed liquidcontainer 19 comprises the dosing device 26, the tube 25, the sleeve 27,the O-ring 31, and the wick 17. The compression spring 37 remains, withthe sealing ring 35, in the inner bore 51 since the right-hand end ofthe compression spring 37 has been pressed slightly into the bore 52 ofthe sleeve 27. The other end of the compression spring 37 is seated inthe bore 36 of the sealing ring 35, with a small amount of prestressing.This also secures the sealing ring 35.

The removed liquid container 19 (not illustrated) can then be opened bythe sleeve 27 being unscrewed from the thread 28. In this case, theO-ring 31 remains seated firmly in the groove 33 and, thus, cannot gomissing. The same applies to the wick 17, which has been inserted intothe bore 22 under prestressing. This is also shown by individual ribs 89projecting in the bore 22. The tube 25 with its dosing device 26 canthen be held under a faucet or a liquid-discharging location (notillustrated) and the tube 25 can be filled with a liquid via a freedthrough-passage bore 59. The sleeve 27 is then screwed to the tube 25again until such time as the O-ring 31 butts in a pressure-tight manneragainst the free end 32 of the tube 25. In this position, liquid canpass outward only via the wick 17.

2. Insertion of the liquid container 19 into the hair-shaping appliance1:

The liquid-filled liquid container 19, according to FIG. 1, is insertedinto the inner bore 51 of the insulating sleeve 39 with the wick 17 infront. It is necessary to ensure that the stub or stubs 77engages/engage in the guide grooves 75. In this position, the liquidcontainer 19 is not initially rotatable. The liquid container 19 is thenpushed into the insulating sleeve 39 until the stub or stubs 77strikes/strike against the ramp or ramps 79. Upon further displacementof the liquid container 19 in the direction X, the container isautomatically rotated counter to the direction of rotation U by thestubs 77 sliding up the ramp 79. When the liquid container 19 is pushedinto the insulating sleeve 39, the end surface 34 of the sleeve 27strikes against the end surface 34 of the sealing ring 35 and, uponfurther displacement of the liquid container 19 in the direction X, thesealing ring 35 is carried along to the right and the compression spring37 is prestressed in the process. It should be noted, at this stage,that two bayonet closures 74 may be formed diametrically opposite oneanother, for better centering of the liquid container 19, in theinsulating sleeve 39.

Once the liquid container 19 has been rotated to a sufficient extent,and the compression spring 37 has been prestressed to a correspondinglyhigh level, the manual force acting on the liquid container 19 can thendecrease to the extent where the force of the compression spring 37displaces the liquid container 19 counter to the direction X again untilthe stub 77 engages behind the blocking protuberance 82 and strikesagainst the stop surface 81. Once this occurs, the position of theliquid container 19 according to FIGS. 1 and 2 has been reached and thehairshaping appliance 1 is then ready for operation.

3. Operation of the hair-shaping appliance according to the inventionduring the discharge of steam:

Once a valve device (not illustrated) has been rotated into its openposition by hand, gas flows into the catalyst 8 and it is likewisepossible, by activating a further ignition button (not illustrated), forthe ignition device (not illustrated) to be ignited. On account of acombustion, the ignition filaments 9 achieve their operatingtemperature, i.e. they begin to ignite by the flame-free combustion.This high temperature is then transmitted to the catalyst 8, which isactivated in this way.

The evaporator plate 4 is then heated until the control rod 10 cuts backthe gas feed. The desired operating temperature at the evaporator plate4 is then automatically controlled by the control rod 10 by virtue ofopening and closing the valve device. The heat of the catalyst which isproduced in the combustion chamber 7 also penetrates, via the openings 6(FIGS. 2 and 4), into a common chamber 87 formed between the evaporatorplate 4 and the bore 42 of the drum 3. This results in the bore 42 and,thus, the drum 3, also being heated. According to an aspect of theinvention, the common chamber 87 combines the combustion chamber 7 withthe steam distributor chamber 91. The combustion gases produced in thecatalyst 8 are delivered, via the openings 6, into the common chamber 87and, from there, to the outside via the through-passages 2. Thisoperation takes place until such time as the hair-shaping appliance issufficiently hot.

A user can then pick up the hair-shaping appliance 1 by its handle (notillustrated). The handle is formed on the right-hand side of thehair-shaping appliance 1 according to FIGS. 1 to 4. The user may movethe appliance 1 toward his/her head. The clamp 67 may be pivoted openand hair may be positioned in the resulting gap 73. It is then possiblefor the hair to be wound around the outer lateral surface 66 of the drum3.

A user can then use a finger of his/her other hand (not illustrated) topress on the base 60 of the dosing device 26 until such time as theliquid container 19 is displaced in the direction X counter to the forceof the compression spring 37. In this actuating position, the base 60 ofthe diaphragm hardly deforms at all since the deformation force which isnecessary for deforming the base 60 is greater than the force which isnecessary for compressing the compression spring 37. This means that theliquid container 19 is displaced in the direction X, counter to thecompressive force of the compression spring 37, until such time as thestub 77 strikes against the boundary surface 86 of the recess 78, as canclearly be seen in FIG. 4 in particular.

If force then continues to be applied to the base 60 of the dosingdevice 26, the base 60 deforms into the through-passage bore 59 of thetube 25 (although this is not illustrated in the drawing). With thisdeformation of the base 60, the liquid located in the liquid container19 is then forced through the wick 17 causing liquid in the form ofdroplets (not illustrated) to pass through the free end 20 of the wick17. Since there is only a very small distance “b” between the free end20 of the wick 17 and the evaporator surface 16 in this position (FIG.3)—the distance being approximately 1 to 5 mm—the droplet comes intocontact with the evaporator surface 16. The droplet, therefore,evaporates, before it can drop off the wick 17. If the base 60 ispressed firmly enough for a plurality of liquid droplets to pass out atthe free end 20 of the wick 17, then the evaporator chamber 14 is filledto a greater or lesser extent with liquid. The liquid can then partiallyor wholly evaporate, provided that pressure continues to be applied tothe base 60 of the dosing device 26.

The steam formed in the evaporator chamber 14, according to FIGS. 1 and3, is then guided into the annular chamber 53 where it penetrates theannular felt element 47. Water droplets are restrained by the feltelement 47 or wick 17. Steam and water cannot pass into the annularspace 55, which is open to the atmosphere, since the sealing ring 35 issealed in relation to the inner bore 51 and the sleeve 27. Once thesteam has penetrated the felt element 47, it passes into thesteam-distributor chamber 91 and, thus, [according to the invention]also into the common chamber 87. The steam is heated up there again andleaves the through-passages 2 in the outward direction together with thecombustion gases. This steam penetrates into a user's hair, heats thehair and, at the same time, wets it so that it can be shaped to bettereffect.

As soon as the pressure on the base 60 of the dosing device 26 decreasesto a point that the pressure is smaller than the force applied by thecompression spring 37, the liquid container 19 is displaced to the left,counter to the direction X, until, in turn, the stub 77 strikes againstthe stop surface 81. When the force is removed from the base 60, thebase 60 deforms again into the starting position illustrated in FIGS.1-4. A negative pressure is produced in the chamber 24 of the liquidcontainer 19 ensuring that the excess liquid in the wick 17 and/or inthe evaporator chamber 14 (that is to say liquid which has not yet beenconverted into steam), is sucked back into the chamber 24 via the wick17. This prevents any more liquid from being evaporated than is desiredby a user.

Through the actuation of the base 60 of the dosing device 26, it is verydifficult to meter the precise quantity of water which is to beevaporated in the evaporator chamber 14. For this reason, it ispossible, if too much liquid has passed into the evaporator chamber 14,for example, on account of excessively pronounced actuation of the base60 and/or of the dosing device 26, for the liquid to be sucked backabruptly into the chamber 24 of the liquid container 19 via the wick 17.(In this case, the steam delivery is adjusted in an abrupt manner.) Thisproduces a hair-shaping appliance 1 with very economical waterconsumption for producing steam.

(When the hair-shaping appliance 1 is not in use) and when thehair-shaping appliance 1 is not used for a relatively long period oftime, it is not possible for the liquid, which is still located in thechamber 24 of the liquid container 19, to run out of the latter and passout as non-evaporated water at the through-passages 2 or even to be ableto pass to the catalyst 8 via the openings 6. The latter possibilitywould render the next ignition operation difficult, or would even makeit impossible to activate the catalyst 8. For this purpose, anexcessively high level of ignition energy would be necessary in order todrive the liquid out of the catalyst 8.

According to an aspect of the invention, it is, thus, not possible forthe liquid to run out of the liquid container 19 because the dosingdevice 26 closes the liquid container 19 with sealing action. The liquidcan only run out via the wick 17 when the dosing device 26 is actuatedand, during the return stroke, air flows into the liquid container 19via the wick 17. Since, however, the wick 17 is dimensioned such that,in the pressure-free state, no air can penetrate into the chamber 24 viathe same, it is not possible for any liquid to run out of the liquidcontainer 19 without external action.

When the liquid tank 19 is displaced, the base 60 is merely subjected toan axially directed force applied by hand. Rotation and, thus, thepossibility of the liquid container 19 dropping out of the hair-shapingappliance 1 when the force is released are barely possible. The maximumdisplacement of the liquid container 19 is provided by the distance (a)between the stop surface 81 and the boundary surface 86. This preciselydefines the minimum distance (b) between the free end 20 of the wick 17and the evaporator surface 16 (FIG. 3).

It should also be mentioned that the evaporator surface 16 is providedwith a stub-like elevation 88, of which the average diameter (d) issmaller than the diameter of the free end 20 of the wick 17 (FIG. 1).Furthermore, the stub-like elevation 88 is rounded at its free end inorder for the wick 17 to be subjected to the action of as little heat aspossible. This increases the service life of the wick 17. The stub-likeelevation 88 also advantageously serves to provide the largest possibleevaporator surface 16, by means of which the largest possible quantityof steam can be produced in a comparatively short period of time.

Once a curl (not illustrated) has been sufficiently subjected to theaction of steam and heat, and has thus achieved a comparatively stableform, the clamp 67 can be opened by hand and the curled sections of haircan be removed from the hair-shaping appliance. The operation can thenbe repeated on further sections of hair.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hair-shaping appliance, in particular steamstyling tongs, having a tubular drum which treats the hair and isprovided with through-passages, having a dosing device, upon theactuation of which liquid passes out of an outlet of a liquid containervia a liquid-channeling device, and having an evaporating device whichis supplied with heat by a heating device and comprises an evaporatorsurface which is in thermal contact with the heating device and on whichliquid which has passed out evaporates into steam, which then passesinto a steam-distributor chamber and, there, passes outward via thethrough-passages, the heating device being formed in a combustionchamber of the drum, in which, during the heating operation, flame-freecombustion of a gas takes place by means of a catalyst, of which thecombustion gases pass out via outlets formed in the drum and/or in thecombustion chamber, characterized in that the combustion chamber and thesteam-distributor chamber are formed by a common chamber, and in thatmeans which prevent water penetrating into the common chamber areprovided.
 2. The hair-shaping appliance as claimed in claim 1,characterized in that the common chamber is bounded on the outside bythe drum which, for its part, is provided with outlet holes which formboth the through-passages and the outlets.
 3. The hair-shaping applianceas claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the means are designed suchthat, as a result of the actuation of the dosing device, excess liquidwhich may be present in the evaporator chamber, before the nextactuation of the dosing device in each case, to remove from theevaporator chamber again and to convey back into the liquid container.4. The hair-shaping appliance as claimed in claim 3, characterized inthat the means comprise the dosing device and the liquid-channelingdevice, in that the dosing device comprises, on the one hand, apressure/suction pump operating in accordance with the displacementprinciple and, on the other hand, the liquid container, which can onlybe brought into connection with the atmosphere via its outlet, with theresult that during the return stroke of the pressure/suction pump excessliquid flows back into the liquid container again, in reverse, via theliquid-channeling device.
 5. The hair-shaping appliance as claimed inclaim 4, characterized in that the evaporating device comprises anevaporator surface which is located opposite the outlet, and in that theevaporator surface is part of an evaporator chamber which receives anddischarges the liquid.
 6. The hair-shaping appliance as claimed in claim4, characterized in that the liquid-channeling device comprises a wickwhich is fastened in the outlet and of which the first free endterminates at a small distance in front of the evaporator surface whenliquid is discharged or received.
 7. The hair-shaping appliance asclaimed in claim 4, characterized in that the wick can transport bothwater and air in both directions of flow.
 8. The hair-shaping applianceas claimed in claim 5 or 7, characterized in that the second free end ofthe wick projects into the liquid container.
 9. The hair-shapingappliance as claimed in claim 5 or 7, characterized in that, fordischarging liquid, the first free end of the wick is only spaced apartfrom the evaporator surface by the extent such that the quantity ofliquid discharged during actuation of the pressure/suction pump issufficient in order to form a droplet large enough, at the first freeend of the wick, to produce contact with the evaporator surface.
 10. Thehair-shaping appliance as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that thedosing device and the chamber of the liquid container form apiston/cylinder arrangement.
 11. The hair-shaping appliance as claimedin claim 4, characterized in that the dosing device comprises anelastically deformable wall which forms part of the liquid container.12. The hair-shaping appliance as claimed in claim 11, characterized inthat the liquid container can be displaced in the axial longitudinaldirection of the hair-shaping appliance, counter to the force of acompression spring, in an insulating sleeve fastened in the drum in thatthe outlet with its liquid-channeling device is formed at that end ofthe liquid container which is located opposite the evaporator surface,and the deformable wall is formed at the other, remote end of the liquidcontainer, and in that a marked deformation of the elasticallydeformable wall is only possible when the liquid container, oncedisplaced, moves against a stop.
 13. The hair-shaping appliance asclaimed in claim 12, characterized in that the elastically deformablewall is arranged in a removable manner on the housing of the liquidcontainer.
 14. The hair-shaping appliance as claimed in claim 12,characterized in that at least one stub projects on the outer surface ofthe liquid container and, following the insertion of the liquidcontainer, engages in a bayonet-like manner behind a recess formed onthe insulating sleeve, and in that the recess is adjoined by a gap whichruns in the longitudinal direction of the insulating sleeve and allowsfurther displacement of the liquid container in the direction of theevaporator surface.
 15. The hair-shaping appliance as claimed in claim12, characterized in that the base of the liquid container is formed bya sleeve provided with the outlet, in that the liquid-channeling deviceis fastened in the outlet and projects out of the sleeve, and in thatthe sleeve is fastened releasably on a tube of the liquid container bymeans of a second releasable connection, preferably a bayonet closure orthread.
 16. The hair-shaping appliance as claimed in claim 15,characterized in that formed on the outer wall of the sleeve is a stopon which the compression spring is supported on one side, and in thatformed on the inner wall of the insulating sleeve is a base on which theother side of the compression spring is supported.
 17. The hair-shapingappliance as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that mounted on theexternal diameter of the compression spring is a sealing ring, of whichone end butts with sealing action against an end surface of the sleeveand the other end butts with sealing and sliding action against theinner wall of the insulating sleeve.
 18. The hair-shaping appliance asclaimed in claim 17, characterized in that the insulating sleeve isintroduced into the drum to such an extent that a steam-permeable ring,preferably a felt element, is clamped in between the free end of theinsulating sleeve and the end side of an evaporator chamber formed bythe evaporator plate, with the result that the steam produced in theevaporator chamber can only pass into the common chamber via thesteam-permeable ring.
 19. The hair-shaping appliance as claimed in claim12, characterized in that the base of the liquid container is formed bya sleeve provided with the outlet, in that the liquid-channeling deviceis fastened in the outlet and projects out of the sleeve, and in thatthe sleeve is fastened releasably on a tube of the liquid container bymeans of a second releasable connection.
 20. The hair-shaping applianceas claimed in claim 17, characterized in that the insulating sleeve isintroduced into the drum to such an extent that a steam-permeable ringis clamped in between the free end of the insulating sleeve and the endside of an evaporator chamber formed by the evaporator plate, with theresult that the steam produced in the evaporator chamber can only passinto the common chamber via the steam-permeable ring.